1979 Houston Oilers season
Encyclopedia
The 1979 season
was the Houston Oilers 20th season and their 10th in the NFL. The franchise scored 362 points while the defense gave up 331 points. Their record of 11 wins and 5 losses resulted in a second place finish in the AFC Central Division. The Oilers appeared once on Monday Night Football
and returned to the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive year. Earl Campbell
would lead the NFL in rushing for the second consecutive year and set a franchise record for most touchdowns in a season with 19.
, receiver Ken Burrough
, and running back Earl Campbell
, could only generate 259 yard compared to San Diego's 385. But they still won the game, largely due to the effort of rookie safety Vernon Perry
, who set a playoff record with 4 interceptions as the Oilers defeated the Chargers, 17–14. In his first career playoff game, Chargers future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts
threw for 333 yards, but was intercepted 5 times.
1979 NFL season
The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...
was the Houston Oilers 20th season and their 10th in the NFL. The franchise scored 362 points while the defense gave up 331 points. Their record of 11 wins and 5 losses resulted in a second place finish in the AFC Central Division. The Oilers appeared once on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
and returned to the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive year. Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
would lead the NFL in rushing for the second consecutive year and set a franchise record for most touchdowns in a season with 19.
NFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School |
| 1 | ||||
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 2, 1979 | at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
W 29–27 | |
| 2 | September 9, 1979 | at Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
L 38–7 | |
| 3 | September 16, 1979 | Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a... |
W 20–6 | |
| 4 | September 23, 1979 | at Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 30–27 | |
| 5 | September 30, 1979 | Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 31–10 | |
| 6 | October 7, 1979 | St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 24–17 | |
| 7 | October 14, 1979 | at Baltimore Colts | W 28–16 | |
| 8 | October 21, 1979 | at Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
L 34–14 | |
| 9 | October 28, 1979 | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27–24 | |
| 10 | November 5, 1979 | at Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 9–6 | |
| 11 | November 11, 1979 | Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 31–17 | |
| 12 | November 18, 1979 | Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 42–21 | |
| 13 | November 22, 1979 | at Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
W 30–24 | |
| 14 | December 2, 1979 | at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 14–7 | |
| 15 | December 10, 1979 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
W 20–17 | |
| 16 | December 16, 1979 | Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 26–20 | |
Standings
| AFC Central | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season The 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season saw the Steelers successfully defend their Super Bowl Championship from the previous year as they achieved a 12–4 record and went on to defeat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV.-Roster:-Schedule:... |
12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 416 | 262 |
| Houston Oilers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 362 | 331 |
| Cleveland Browns 1979 Cleveland Browns season The 1979 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 30th season with the National Football League.-NFL Draft:The following were selected in the 1979 NFL Draft.-Schedule:-Standings:-Roster:-References:* *... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 359 | 352 |
| Cincinnati Bengals 1979 Cincinnati Bengals season The 1979 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 12th year in professional football and its 10th with the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-Roster:-References:* * *... |
4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 337 | 421 |
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Morris Towns Morris M. Towns is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Missouri.... T Leon Gray Leon Gray was an American football tackle in the National Football League for the New England Patriots, Houston Oilers, and the New Orleans Saints. Gray played college football at Jackson State University.-Early life:... T George Reihner George Arthur Reihner is a former professional American football player who played Guard for four seasons for the Houston Oilers.He attended college at Penn State.... G Carl Mauck Carl Mauck is a former American football player who was a center who played thirteen seasons in the National Football League for four teams, and later served as an offensive line coach for several teams... C Ed Fisher Edward Fredrick Fisher was a Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in one game for the Detroit Tigers near the end of the 1902 season... G Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Daryl Hunt Daryl Lynn Hunt was a professional American football player, a linebacker for six seasons for the Houston Oilers appearing in 78 career regular season games after being selected by Houston during the 6th round of the 1979 NFL Draft.-University:Hunt is considered one of the best University of... MLB Robert Brazile Robert Lorenzo Brazile, Jr. is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. Nicknamed "Dr. Doom", Brazile played from 1975-1984 for the Houston Oilers.-Professional career:... OLB Art Stringer Arthur Stringer is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the Houston Oilers .... OLB Gregg Bingham Gregg Bingham was a National Football League linebacker from 1973 through 1985 for the Houston Oilers.He played for Gordon Tech high school where is was a tight end and linebacker and was the teams leading tackler.... MLB Steve Kiner Steven Albert Kiner is a former American football linebacker who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and the Houston Oilers. Kiner attended the University of Tennessee from 1967 to 1969, where he was an All-American. He was elected to... MLB Ted Thompson Ted Thompson is the current general manager of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Thompson was named to the post on January 14, 2005, by Packers president and CEO Bob Harlan. Thompson took over the general manager duties from Mike Sherman, who had been serving as both head coach and general manager... MLB Steve Baumgartner Steven John Baumgartner is a former professional American football player who played defensive end for seven seasons for the New Orleans Saints and the Houston Oilers.... OLB Jimbo Elrod James Whittington Elrod is a former American football linebacker who was an All-American at the University of Oklahoma and played professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Oilers of the National Football League.Elrod graduated from East Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in... OLB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Reserve Lists
Practice Squad Rookies in italics |
|||
AFC Wild Card
The Oilers managed to shut down the Broncos offense for most of the game en route to a 13–7 win.AFC Divisional Playoff
The Oilers offense, playing without starting quarterback Dan PastoriniDan Pastorini
Dante "Dan" Anthony Pastorini is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles.-NFL career:...
, receiver Ken Burrough
Ken Burrough
Kenneth Othell Burrough is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 1970 NFL Draft. A 6'4", wide receiver from William M...
, and running back Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
, could only generate 259 yard compared to San Diego's 385. But they still won the game, largely due to the effort of rookie safety Vernon Perry
Vernon Perry
Vernon Perry is a former professional American football player who played cornerback for five seasons for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. Previously he played with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL...
, who set a playoff record with 4 interceptions as the Oilers defeated the Chargers, 17–14. In his first career playoff game, Chargers future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts
Dan Fouts
Daniel Francis Fouts is a retired Hall of Fame American football quarterback in the National Football League. Fouts played his entire professional career with the San Diego Chargers from 1973 through 1987...
threw for 333 yards, but was intercepted 5 times.
AFC Championship Game
The Steelers held the Oilers to only 24 rushing yards, but was also aided by a controversial non-touchdown call to come away with a 27–13 win.Awards and records
- Earl CampbellEarl CampbellEarl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
, NFL Rushing Leader, (1,697) - Earl Campbell, 1979 NFL MVP
- Earl Campbell, PFWA NFL MVP (1979)
- Earl Campbell, Pro Bowl selection 1979
- Earl Campbell, All-Pro selection 1979
- Earl Campbell, NEA NFL MVP (1979)
- Earl Campbell, NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1979)
- Earl Campbell, 1979 Bert Bell AwardBert Bell AwardThe Bert Bell Award for the Professional American football Player of the Year is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. This award is named in honor of Bert Bell , Commissioner of the National Football League and founder of the Maxwell Club...
- Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers record, Most Touchdowns in a Season (19)
- Mike Reinfeldt, NFL Interception Leader, 12
Milestones
- Earl Campbell, 2nd 1,000 yard rushing season
- Earl Campbell, 2nd NFL Rushing Title